The Department of Tidewater Fisheries, which was reconstituted
with the help and advice of this Assembly two years ago, has embarked
upon a bold and progressive program to replenish oysters in the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, including the discovery and use
of dead reef oyster shells for planting. New legislation, sponsored by
this Administration, will be offered during this session to aid the
Department in its effort. I hope fervently that the downward trend
in oyster production can be reversed during my tenure in the office
of Governor. I sincerely urge you to support these measures.

I am able to report to you that the State Roads Commission, like-
wise reorganized in 1959, is making noteworthy progress toward its
goal of giving the State a continuous system of major roads within
five years. During the past year, it pushed ahead the target date for
completion of the Baltimore Beltway, with opening date set for mid-
summer 1962. On the Eastern Shore, dualization of U. S. Route 50 is
progressing, and the remaining portions of the Salisbury Thruway
will be completed by December of this year. In Western Maryland,
construction is under way on important segments of the dualization
of Route 40, and the Commission has advanced the deadline for ad-
vertising of additional parts of Interstate 81. In the Washington su-
burban area, construction has begun on long-neglected radial routes
leading into the city, and the opening of the completed Washington-
Annapolis Expressway is scheduled for this year.

In 1961, the Commission has stepped up its program, scheduling

construction of 120 miles of new highway. On the basis of what it
has accomplished since reorganization, I am confident that the Com-
mission will fulfill its pledge to give Maryland a first-class highway
system in the shortest time possible.

Recognizing the importance of public safety, at the outset of my
Administration I appointed an Administrative Assistant on my staff
charged with liaison with all agencies in the State of Maryland con-
cerned with public safety. In the field of traffic safety this Adminis-
tration has taken certain steps which should result in lowering the
toll of traffic deaths and promote traffic safety in the State. The point
system was enacted into law in the 1959 session of the General Assem-
bly with appropriate amendments in the 1960 session and became
operative on January 1 of this new year.

I am recommending to you the enactment of legislation which will
place the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under classified service
of the State. I believe that this is a logical, complementary step along
with the point system. Another corollary physical improvement which

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